Examine the sweeping changes taking place in pharmaceutical medicine including a new code of conduct, federal regulations and industry changes designed to improve drug companies' standards and elevate their performance.

For those who yearn to break their cigarette addiction but don't fancy a trip to the doctor's office, the ability to get the nicotine patch without a physician's prescription may be just what the doctor ordered.

When Stuart Addison goes to the pharmacy in Margate, Fld., he has the pharmacist fill his prescriptions with generic drugs. Addison. a retired federal government auditor, is one of many Americans who are choosing genetics when they buy drugs.

In the face of bad publicity and impending restrictions, trade groups representing pharmaceutical companies have proposed a voluntary plan for using a clinical trials registry as well as results databases by midyear.

Alternative Cancer Treatments Oxygen Therapy

There is much evidence to suggest that oxygen is a major deterrent to the creation and survival of cancer cells in the body and many emminent scientists and researchers consider the development of oxygen-based therapies as key to the ultimate eradication of cancer. There are now several oxygen therapies available, including the use of hydrogen peroxide compounds (H2O2), ozone therapy and even hyperbaric chambers (as used in decompression chambers for deep see divers). In order to understand how human tissue absorbs and uses oxygen, we need first to understand the concept of pH.

The term pH refers to concentration of the hydrogen proten, which in turn indicates the degree to which body tissue and fluids is either acidic or alkaline. As a general rule in organic chemistry, acidic compounds tend to expel oxygen, while alkaline compounds absorb it. The contemporary western diet is, to say the least, rich in acid-producing foods, in particular refined sugar, and this is considered to be one of the main reasons that cancer rates have multiplied significantly during the last century. For this reason, many therapeutic diets are specifically designed to eliminate too much acidity. Indeed most avoid over-consumption of sugars, which can be regarded as a major contributor to the onset and progression of cancer. In general, the majority of today's conventional foods in the West can be considered as acid-forming.

This includes meats, bread, grains and cereals. The notable exceptions to this are most fruits and vegetables. It might also be noted that excessive stress and very negative emotions can also cause acidic conditions to arise. Because it takes about 20 parts of alkaline substance to neutralize one part acid, our bodies are constantly struggling to maintain a balance. In the early stages of imbalance, symptoms may be relatively mild, including things like colds and flu.

The body then begins to use up alkalising minerals such as calcium to neutralize the excess acid, which in turn can lead to deficiencies. As acid wastes build up, fat is then deposited to protect vital organs (there is a link between excess acidity and obesity). As the acidity increases, microforms such as yeasts multiply in the body, producing more toxins and yet greater acidity, in a vicious circle. Ultimately, it is believed that this can lead to degenerative diseases such as cancer.

Alternative health clinics will regularly employ acid-neutralizing minerals, such as calcium, magnesium and potassium, in their treatment programs to assist with correcting acid/alkaline imbalances. Vitamin D is another key component, being essential to calcium obsorption by the organism. Guidelines for testing saliva pH, which is considered to be the most reliable signal of ionic calcium deficiency, are given in the book "The Calcium Factor: The Scientific Secret of Health and Youth" by Carl J Reich, MD and Bob Barefoot. These are: - For the non-deficient and healthy person, pH 7.5 (dark blue) to pH7.1 (blue) i.

- As a point of reference, most children have a pH 7.5. Other acid-neutralizing minerals are Rubidium, Cesium and Vanadium. There are also several proprietary products available commercially, including oxygen-based products that are aimed at maintaining the correct pH balance in the body. I hope that this brief insight into the importance of oxygen in the correct functioning of the body, plus its role in the prevention and treatment of cancer, will encourage you to further investigate this fascinating subject, crucial to your health.

As always, you should seek the guidance of a professional medical practioner before taking any medications or undergoing any form of therapy.

Dr. Tavares is a medical consultant experienced in traditional and complementary medicine. Her writing about prostate cancer can be found at her blog Alternative Cancer Treatments.